Thoughts on mud brick

The Le Gallienne house

In my 34th year of mudbrick design and construction I am conscious of being more committed to it than ever before. From both an architectural and a structural viewpoint I find earth walls make the most creative and exciting buildings there are. They are inspiring to live in, provide excellent insulation against heat and sound and combine perfectly with every other natural material. Properly used it can produce that timeless quality which is the hallmark of all true architectural building.

There is also a great social ingredient in mud brick construction. All able bodied persons can build in it if they follow a few simple rules. It does not require a long apprenticeship. In fact, I have seen a lot of earth wall buildings erected by men and women who never dreamed they could or would build anything in their lives. Best of all my experience has been that women are as good, if not better at it than men! Building their own house develops a great sense of identity and turns the most modest people into important members of their community. It gives them confidence in all other activities that they undertake. Those that become seriously involved in mud brick building become life long converts to it and prefer to live in a mud brick house rather than in any other type of structure.

Much is made of the economic advantages of earth buildings, but I find the over emphasis on this aspect can cloud the finest qualities it offers. I am convinced that it is the best building medium there is rather than the cheapest. If an owner builder does all the work himself, and improvises well, he can obviously produce a much cheaper building than by any other method. When he costs his labour into the work however, the result is not greatly cheaper than for other building mediums. The real advantage is the spirit and personal character it offers. Professionally built houses we have designed can be 15% to 20% cheaper than for brick or timber if the working conditions are comparable.

Earth building should be designed and built with style rather than to a style. It should take its accent from the surrounding environment and relate to it in 'feeling' so that house and land have a sense of indivisibility. They should become one entity. It is the environmental builder's ultimate medium - the alternative life system par excellence.

The Busst house

Earth building is at its best when in the hands of creative and artistic people who can exploit its sculptural qualities that enhance its living spirit. This gives each proper example a 'one off' character and individuality. It can make marvellous buildings anywhere throughout Australia and is in fact becoming widely used. If the present trend continues it will become a major influence in our national building during the present decade.

Banks and Lending Societies are pleased to lend on it throughout Victoria and in most other States.

Earth buildings are being sold for as much as $200,000 around Melbourne. Perhaps this demand for it by the richer section of society may be a threat. It would be catastrophic if it became the 'in thing' of the wealthy, because some very low cost examples are as beautiful as the expensive ones and truer in concept and character.

The three examples illustrated were designed and built between 1948 and 1978. They are all in excellent condition today and have been almost entirely maintenance free.

The Busst House (1948) has a slab floor on the lower level. It was only the third such that we ever designed and probably one of the first ten used in domestic building in Australia.

The Downing/Le Gallienne House was built in four stages between 1948 and 1964. This photograph was taken after completion of the third stage in 1957.

The third example is our own house which has been developed in a series of stages between 1965 and 1978. We have found it excellent to live in as well as to look at. The slate, brick and timber floors were all laid on a 25 mm mortar bed and the slab has been deleted. The result has caused considerable economies without any problems. It is, of course, essential to watch the drainage to the building in such instances.

One of the greatest qualities of earth building is its sense of freedom of design and construction. We point load most of our buildings which allows the removal and alteration of a lot of walls at any time. It is also generally quite easy to change your mind about design and details whilst the work is proceeding.

The one point I would emphasise in conclusion is the importance of sound organization. It is essential to know how you will conclude your structure detailing before you start.

The Knox house